Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Sixteen Pairs of Catholic Saints Who Were Friends IRL

On the Feast of St. Brigid, on Monday, the kids and I got to talking about the saints. Of course we know that they're all friends NOW, in heaven. But we were kind of intrigued by the idea that St. Brigid and St. Patrick were actually friends IRL, as it were.

Spouses, siblings, parents and children, mentors and protegees, friends . . . it turns out that there are quite a few pairs of saints who knew and loved each other.

So, since St. Valentine's Day is approaching and we are hopefully all thinking about all the different ways there are to love your fellow man, I thought I'd share with you what we found . . .

1. St. Anne and St. Joachim

Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grandparents of Jesus. These guys had their act together.

2. St. Cosmas and St. Damian

Twin brothers who lived in Syria around the year 300. Both physicians. Apparently their thing was converting people to Christianity by not charging for medical services. Which is an excellent plan right up until you get martryed. (Although, long term, still good.)

3. St. Timothy and St. MauraNewlyweds, martyred together during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Diocletian also around 300. It's all very romantic.

4. St. Adrian and St. NataliaAlso married. Also martyred. But these guys were in Nicodemia during the time of Emperor Maximian in the early fourth century.

5. St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis XavierTwo of the founding members of the Jesuit order, these guys were actually ROOMATES IN COLLEGE before they became priests and missionaries and were responsible for ten of thousands of conversions.

6. St. Joseph and the Blessed VirginThe Mother of God and her spouse, the parents of Jesus on earth, and a perfect example to all of the love of a family.

7. St. Louis Martin and St. Zelie MartinSpeaking of good examples . . . Louis and Zelie Martin had nine children, five of whom lived past infancy. All five of those daughters because nuns. One is St. Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church.

8. St. James and St. JohnThese guys were actual brothers (as were Sts. Peter and Andrew) who were both among the twelve apostles, and were two of Jesus' closest friends. He called them the "Sons of Thunder," so you KNOW they were fun at parties.

9. St. Monica and St. AugustineHe was a real stinker, but his mother never gave up on him. Eventually, through the tears and prayers of St. Monica, St. Augustine was converted to Christianity and rehabilitated from his wanton ways, to the benefit of all posterity.

10. St. Paul and St. BarnabasNeither met Jesus before his death on the cross, but both worked tirelessly alongside the apostles to spread Christianity in its early days. They had some rather public disagreements about how, exactly, to do this, and with whom. But that's okay. Friends are allowed to decide not to travel together anymore.

11. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and Bl. Claude ColombiereReceiving a vision from Jesus asking you to spread a devotion to His Sacred Heart has got to be overwhelming, but then to have everyone around you think you're bonkers and/or a liar? That would be even worse. Fortunately for Margaret Mary, she had her confessor, Bl. Claude, who believed in her.

12. St. Benedict and St. ScholasticaThe "Holy Twins," they knew from a very young age that they both wanted to enter religious life. They each founded an order, and used to meet in the middle once a year to talk about old times.

13. St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the CrossBoth Carmelites in Spain in the 16th century, they worked together to return their religious communities to a life of prayer. But not everyone was on board with their plan. It's nice to know you've got a friend who'll get imprisoned for you.

14. St. Felicity and St. PerpetuaPerpetua was a noblewoman and Felicity was a slave, but the two young mothers were martyred together in the year 203, rather than apostatize. St. Perpetua's letters detailing their imprisonment are a rare first hand account.

15. St. Francis and St. ClareClare was a devoted follower of Francis, and was entrusted by him with the founding of a religious order for women. She trusted him to cut her hair.

16. St. Patrick and St. Brigid
Their friendship is noted in the Book of Armagh: "Between St Patrick and Brigid, the pillars of the Irish people, there was so great a friendship of charity that they had but one heart and one mind. Through him and through her Christ performed many great works."

So, there you go, all saints, all loved, but different times and places and types.

Now I'm looking around me, thinking how COOL it would be if I could become a saint with my husband, or my kid, or maybe a fellow blogger. I wanted my kids to think about it too, and to make such good choices in their friends that they could hope to one day all be canonized together!

So . . . I made up some Valentines for my kids to take to our homeschool parkday valentine exchange, featuring all sixteen pairs of saints.

And, just in case you're interested, I put them in the Etsy shop as 4x6 trader cards . . .

Each card features one pair of saints, and a little description. (Less colorful than the ones above. Just the facts.) You get the whole shebang for $2.

Have a very Happy St. Valentine's Day, and Fat Tuesday before that. I've got one more printable-type project I've been working on. I'm looking forward to sharing it with you, maybe next week? Anyway, have some fun. 'Cause Lent, she's a coming.

That's what I've always thought too! If I ever had boy/girl twins they'd totally be Benedict and Scholastica. Might need to come up with a slightly more modern nickname for Scholastica though ;) Susanna, I love the idea of a Francis and Clair! Great names both!

I've always loved learning about saints who were friends IRL. I think it was, perhaps, great and merciful of God to give one to the other to lean on during difficult moments on the path of sanctity. ;)

Also, St. Isaac Jogues & St. Jean de Brebeuf and St. Therese of Lisieux & St. Theophane Venard. Fantastic valentines idea!

This is cool! It made me wonder whether John Paul II and Mother Teresa knew one another, as they did live during the same time. A google search tells me that they did indeed meet, at least once, and that she had a heart attack while visiting him! Her beatification took place while he served as Pope. I don't think she is formally recognized as a saint yet, but perhaps these two should make an addendum to your list when that happens!

St Thomas Aquinas and Saint Bonaventure were best buds! And how about St John Paul II and Mother Teresa? St Francis and St Anthony met in real life, as did St Dominic and St Francis Assisi. St Bernard Clairvaux's entire family was canonized!!! I loved seeing all of these saint combos! Thanks!!!

I'm a bit late on this, but I'm reading St. Faustina's diary and it jogged my memory. St. Faustina's confessor, Fr. Michael Sopocko, is going to be beatified later this year. Two more awesome holy people who were friends!

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